|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: DIPLOMAT JAMES LUCAS
Reply-To: <diplomatjames@qq.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2015 07:25:42 +0100
Subject: Re: Dear E-mail Account Owner,
Attention Please,
I’m Diplomatic agent Mr. James Lucas; I just want to inform you about my successful arrival in Los Angeles International Airport California with your two boxes of consignment which worth Ten Million Dollars I have been instructed by DHL COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY to be delivered to you. The Airport authority demanded for all the legal back up papers to prove to them that the fund is no way related with drug nor fraud money, I have presented the papers I handed to them and they are very much pleased with the papers I presented but the only thing that is still keeping me here is the airport delivery Tag and my American Gate Passing certificate which is not placed on the boxes, one of the Airport Authority has advise that we get the delivery tag so that I can exit the airport immediately and make my delivery successful .I try to reason with them and they stated the delivery tag and my American Gate Passing certificate will cost us just $177 Dollars
Please try and reach me with my telephone number call me now Diplomatic agent Telephone Number (202) 792-9606 as I can not afford to spend more time here due to other delivery I have to take care of in Bangk ok. As I can accompany you to your bank were you will deposit the fund Successfully with these papers. I have I more vital paper with me but I can only present you the hard copy when I reach your house as that it’s the diplomatic rules, such as authorization to deliver.
You can direct the tag fee to our Head Office as they will get it here for you and they are entitled to receive and make any payment to foreign countries authority.
Agent. James Lucas
My Telephone Number Call Me
Diplomatic Agent (202) 792-9606
Kindly send $177.00 to my boss to enable him obtain the required delivery tag and my American gate passing certificate and get it fax to me here to enable me connect my final flight from here in Los Angeles International Airport California to your destination, send the $177.00 now through western union money transfer with the information’s below:
RECEIVERS NAME : LOKO OBI
COUNTRY : Benin Republic
CITY : Cotonou
QUESTION : When
ANSWER : Now
SENDER NAME.......
MTCN................
Thank
Regard
Agent James Lucas
Diplomatic Agent
Telephone Number (202) 792-9606
|
Anti-fraud resources:
